I have had my MTR beadlocks ( from GCR rims ) for a while now.
So far so good... however every once in a while ( 2 weeks to a month ) depending on miles used... I re-torque the bolts on the beadlocks to 12-15 ft/lbs.... Well today, while doing some rig prep work for a beach/sand dune outing this weekend, I was able to snap a beadlock bolt while re-torquing to spec...

Has anyone else seen this( iE: stretched bolts due to multiple re-torquings) ? I used a bolt from the spare after easy-outing the old bolt stub.... picked up 10 spares tonight.

I'm considering a "scheduled" bolt replacement program...

It is however possible I just grabbed the bolt head wrong with the torque wrench which helped snap it ( at certain angles of using the torque wrench, them beefy wide 37's make it hard to get sqaure on the bolt )

yes its normal.
they keep stretching each time u tension then break.
Its standard provcedure in construction industry use HT / grade 8.8, grade 5 bolts only once.
regards
Michael.

Well.....

If you think your grade 8's are stretching, and eventually failing, due to 12-15 ft/lbs I've got some NICE beachfront property for sale right here in New Mexico!

What's happening is the stress on the bolt head from the MASSIVE forces placed on the tires during street use, are causing the bolt to reach it's elastic limit...Especially cornering.

It's not all that uncommon to have bolt heads pop when driving....But 12-15 ft/lbs on the end of a torque wrench applied to a 3/8ths grade 8 isn't gonna' do shieat.

--D

Originally posted by RockRover
Well.....

If you think your grade 8's are stretching, and eventually failing, due to 12-15 ft/lbs I've got some NICE beachfront property for sale right here in New Mexico!

What's happening is the stress on the bolt head from the MASSIVE forces placed on the tires during street use, are causing the bolt to reach it's elastic limit...Especially cornering.

It's not all that uncommon to have bolt heads pop when driving....But 12-15 ft/lbs on the end of a torque wrench applied to a 3/8ths grade 8 isn't gonna' do shieat.

--D

That makes alot more sense to me. I understand bolts will stretch each time the are torqued to a certain degree, I just found it hard to believe 12-15 ft/lbs would be enough to do it. I have only torqued em 4 or 5 times. The rig isn't my daily driver, but when I do use it to go to town I drive a 3100 ft to sealevel twisty road witch probably stresses the beadlocks a bit.
Frequently I check the tightness on all the suspension components and retorque em as neccesary, I have never had a large problem with bolts snapping in that scenario, albiet most of those bolts were much larger than the itty bitty beadlock bolts ( 5/16 or 3/8 )

Yup...I think the torque spec on a 3/8ths grade 8 is 45-55ft/lbs...That's typically the point before elastic movement.

Hence why people should have 32-36 bolt bead locks if they plan on doing any regular (and twisty!) road driving with anything over a 35" tire (IMO).

I've got 20 bolt locks with my 42's...And they do have me concerned a little, but not much...Heck, my rig will never see anything over 55mph anyway...And even that's short bursts.

-D

Originally posted by RockRover
Yup...I think the torque spec on a 3/8ths grade 8 is 45-55ft/lbs...That's typically the point before elastic movement.

Hence why people should have 32-36 bolt bead locks if they plan on doing any regular (and twisty!) road driving with anything over a 35" tire (IMO).

I've got 20 bolt locks with my 42's...And they do have me concerned a little, but not much...Heck, my rig will never see anything over 55mph anyway...And even that's short bursts.

-D

Myne has 36 bolts, but I beleive they are 5/16th rather than 3/8th, at least thats what I bought for spare last night... did a quick check while running out the door... looked like they fit.

where did you find the torque spec for the bolts?

I do highway stuff on occasion.... On long trips she's a trailer queen... but short trips I drive, like this weekend, its a 4hr trip and my camper and flatbed are in psuedo storage at a friends house... So I'll drive or flat tow ( and I'm not to sure I like flate towing the D to much... series yes, D90 only if I have to )